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We'Ll Find the Place

A place of refuge in the Rocky Mountains had found its place in the dreams of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints even before it became certain they would be driven from their thriving city of Nauvoo. On August 6, 1842, Joseph Smith uttered a prophecy that has not found its way into the Church's official record of prophecies, the Doctrine and Covenants. On that day, Joseph, with a number of other brethren, crossed the Mississippi into Montrose, Iowa, to witness the installation of new officers of the Rising Star Lodge, Ancient York Masons. The Prophet recorded the event:

I had a conversation with a number of brethren in the shade of the building on the subject of our persecutions in Missouri, and the constant annoyance which has followed us since we were driven from that state. I prophesied that the Saints would continue to suffer much affliction and would be driven to the Rocky Mountains; many would apostatize, others would be put to death by our persecutors or lose their lives in consequence of exposure or disease, and some of you will live to go and assist in building settlements and build cities and see the Saints become a mighty people in the midst of the Rocky Mountains.

Years later, in an affidavit, Anson Call remembered that prophesy. He said:

Joseph, who was with us, told us of many things which would transpire in the mountains. After drinking a drought of ice water, he said, "Brethren, this water tastes much like the crystal streams that are running in the Rocky Mountains which some of you will participate of. There are some of those standing here that will perform a great work in that land," pointing to Shadrach Roundy and a number of others whom I have forgotten. "There is Anson. He shall go and shall assist in building cities from one end of the country to the other, and you shall perform as great a work as has ever been done by man, so that the nations of the earth shall be astonished and many of these will be gathered to that land and in assisting in building cities and temples and Israel shall be made to rejoice, but before you see this day, you will pass through scenes that are but little understood by you. This people will be made to mourn, multitudes will die and many will apostatize, but the Priesthood shall prevail over all its enemies triumph over the devil, never more to be thrown down."

The Prophet's interest in the Rocky Mountains and all the lands that led to them continued to be active the following year. In July 1843, he called upon Jonathan Dunham to lead an exploring expedition into the Indian country of Iowa. Dunham, himself of Indian extraction, made a complete report of this expedition, which the Prophet entered into his History of the Church. Jonathan spent two weeks struggling through Iowa, in weather that should have prepared the Saints for what they would experience three years later. He reached the chief village of the Pottawatomie Indians on the east bank of the Missouri River on July 29. He spent two weeks with this tribe, sharing their food, learning their customs, and gaining their favor. When the time came for him to return to Nauvoo, the Pottawatomie chief chose an escort to protect and guide him. It took them but eight days to cross Iowa into Nauvoo.